Stick loading apparatus for stick carriers



1933- c. H. WAGNER STICK LOADING APPARATUS FOR STICK CARRIERS s Shets-Sheet -l Filed July 28 gwucwbom Oct. 3, H. WAGNER STICK LOADING APPARATUS FOR STICK CARRIERS Filed July 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 j, J. 4 4 u E .m r r L 2 Q J 2 n 4 z W. 4 w i F H, i

c. H. WAGNER 1,929,340 STICK LOADING APPARATUS FOR STICK CARRIERS Oct. 3, 1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1932 Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES STICK LOADING APPARATUS FOR S' IICK I CARRIERS Charles'H. Wagner, Washington,-D.- C; 7 Application July 28, 1932. Serial No.'625,516

21 Claims. (Cl.

Thisinvention relates to apparatus for loading stick or handle carriers used in the manufacture of confections known as ice cream suckers. These suckers'comprise a stick or handle member frozen in abody of edible material such as ice cream. 7

One method of manufacture of the above noted ice cream suckers consists of placing a plurality of sticks or handles in a stick carrier and then placing the carrier containing the;

' tank until the material in the compartments is firmly frozen, causing the sticks to be firmly embedded therein. The mold is then heated to loosen the material therefrom after which the carrier is removed, carrying with it the sticks and the blocks of frozen material.

These carriers comprise a plurality of individual spring actuated stick holding clips with an actuating member to simultaneously open all the clips either for the insertion of the sticks therein, or for the removal of the completed sucker therefrom. The carriers are also extensible longitudinahy .so as to increase the space between the suckers after they have been removed from the freezing molds .so that they may be more readily dipped in a coating composition such as chocolate, and also to support the suckers in spaced inverted position so that the bags may be more readily placed over them.

One example of these carriers is disclosed .in

' the patent to R. F. Brimer, 1,809,190.

An object of my invention, is therefore, to provide a loading apparatus for the above described type of stick or handle carriers.

Another object is the provision of a loading apparatus for completely loading the above mentioned types of handle carriers forstick handles in a single operation.

Another object is the provision of a loading apparatus for carriers having aplurality of indi vidual spring operated stick holding clip wherein means are provided for simultaneously inserting a stick into each of the clips so that the carrier may be completely loaded with sticks in a single operation. 7

A further object is the provision of a stick loading apparatus for loading the above mentioned carrier with means for preventing the insertion of less than the full number of sticks as determined by the capacity of the carrier.

A stillflfurfiher' Object is theprovision of a.

stick loading apparatus comprising a plurality of stick magazines arranged :to. simultaneously project a stick in a horizontal plane and to rotate the stick on its longitudinal axisfrom a flat horizontal position to a vertical position to dispose the sticks for insertion in. a stick carrier.

A still further object is the provision of apnrality of stick magazines arranged .inclosely spaced relation and ejectors associated with-the carrier to insert the sticks .into the carrier. 1

Another object is the provision of a loading apparatus for carriers of the class described for automatically opening the jaws of. the carrier a's.it is moved on the guideway toward the. loader and to cause the jaws to be closed to grip the sticks when removed from the loader;

A further object is the provision of a loader for stick carriers, in which flat sticksare placed 'lines disclosing the operating pedalpartly depressed to movethe sticks into the rotary stick holders; '7

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional'view taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,but disclosing '7 only one of the stick magazines; Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view online 3-3 of Fig. 1 and disclosing the inner or receiving end of the rotatable stick holders, full lines indicating the receiving position and dotted lines their .ro-v

tated position; Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic fragmentary front elevation of a portion of my loader with the stick holders rotated to position the sticksfor engagementwith the jaws of a stick M carrier; V M Fig. 5 is ahorizontal detail sectional view rotary stick holders;

through one of the supporting brackets for the Fig- 6 is a detail sectional view taken approxi--,.

mately on line 6-6 of Fig.1 and disclosing the side guides for one form of stick carrier; r

Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view ofa modified bottom sticks arranged to beactuated by a stick twisted flat tube;

8 but disclosing the twisted rotating device;

form of stick rotating device Fig. 8 is aside elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section, of a further modification in which the loading apparatus is actuated by the carrier as the same is placed in position to receive the stick handles, the dotted lines showing the sticks inposition to be received by the carrier; h 7,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of the apparatus seen in Fig. tube type of stick Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal detail view taken in the plane of the carrier grooves or guides but showing a portion of the twisted tube and end of carrier in elevation; .Fig. 1-1 is a detail perspective view of one form of stick carrier in position on the side guides of my loader and being withdrawn after loading;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of anotherform of carrier having two banks of stick a further modified form of loading apparatus;

Figp13 is a top plan view of the arrangement of magazines and delivering tubes adaptable for use in conjunction with the carrier disclosed in Fig. 12;- d 1 j j Fig. ,14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the odified form'of loading apparatus shown in Figs. 12 and'13; and I v Fig-l is a detail perspective view of an auto matic stick holding clip opening device.

Like "reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures ofthe drawings, in which 1 indicates generally a'supporting frame on which is mounted a plurality of stick magazines 2 placed side by side in closely'spaced relation. Thesemagazines 2 each comprise the 7 vertical U channels 3 and 4 for receiving a plu rality of flat sticks 5 in horizontal super-imposed position as seen in the drawings.

" The channels 2 are connected together by the flanged strips 6, the inwardly extending flanges '1' thereof constituting a support for the lowermost sticks in the magazines 2. "'The strips or plates Gextend downwardly below the flanges 7 and to the rear of the magazines 2 and are provided with the longitudinal grooves or slots 8 in which the carrier pins 9 of the ejectors 10 slide. p Q

These ejectors each have a stick engaging shoulder 11 for engaging the rear ends of the sticks and they operate between the flanges 7, to

air

move the lowermost stick out of the magazine 2.

Return'springs 12 are'connected between the ejectors' l0 and a stationary part of the frame to return the ejectors to the position shown in full lines iniFigfl. l

The ejectors 10 each have a depending arm 13 carrying apin 14 which is disposed iri'the slot 15 of the ejector operating link 16, the free end of which is pivoted at 17 to the'operating bell crank 18 pivoted at 19 to the frame in'a suitable manner. These bell cranks may all be fixed to a common operating shaft instead of the pivot 17, the

shaft being journ'aled in the side frames of the spring, or springs 20.

.An operating lever 21 having a foot pedal 22 is pivoted at 23 to the frame of the apparatus and has pivoted thereto at 2% the operating link 25. This link is in turn pivoted at 26 consisting of a The front channels 4 of each of the stick magazines 2 have secured thereto the rotary stick holder brackets 27 in which are journaled the rotary stick holders 28. These holders 28 are disposed directly in front of the stick discharge slots 29 in the lower portion of the channels 4; for discharging the lower stick in each magazine. They comprise a body having a flared stickreceiving opening 30 leading 'into a rectangular passage 31 extending through the body, the cross sectional shape which is the approximate shape of the sticks being handled but slightly larger. Detent'springs '32 may be provided to frictionally hold'the sticks in the passages if desired, and also to resist rearward movement of the sticks while in the holders. v

Each of the holders is provided with an operating arm 33, these arms being connected together by the link, or links, 34 so that simultaneous rotation of all of the holders is accomplished. '7 Y One of the holders, preferably the end one is provided with 'a second arm 35 to which is pivoted the actuating link 36 This arm 35 operates between the stationary stop or limit pins 37 which 'limit the rotation of the holder to 90-degrees or a quarter of a turn. 'The lower end of the actuating link 36 is slotted at 38 to receive the holder actuating pin 39 carried by the short arm of the positioning-the stick carriers in order that they will engage the sticks held by and protruding from the holders 28 as seen in Figs. 1 and 6.

The type off stick carrier most particularly adaptable for the above described apparatus is seen in Fig. 11 and comprises an expandable frame A'which carries a group or plurality of spring actuated stick holding clips, B, the sides of the frame being provided with extensions'C which are adapted to slide'in the grooves or guide channels el'aforesaid. V I

This carrier is somewhat similar to that disclosed in Patent 1,899,190 to R. F. Brimer, and will not thereforefbe described in detail.

In operating the loaderjust'described the operator picks up one of these stick carriers (as seen in Fig. 11) and places the same with the extension 0 in the side grooves41 formed in the side leof the apparatus. g

The operating pedal or lever 21-22 is then fully depressed, rocking the bell crank 18 to the-right. During the first portion of this movement the spring 40 will cause the holder actuating link to follow the short arm' of the bell crank down which rotates the holders to position the stick receiving openings with their width in a hori zontal plane, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 2. Also during this initial position of the operating lever 21, the links 16 are moved while the ejector 13 remains stationary due to friction of sticks in the magazines, and when the springs 12 are used, by these springs.

The holders now having been turned to stick receiving position, the actuating arm 35 thereof strikes the lower stop pin 37 preventing further downward movement of the link 36, the pin 39 will now move in the slot 38 as the bell crank 18 continues to move to the right. At this time the left hand ends of the slots 15 engage the pins 1'; on the eject'ors and further rocking of the bell (Fig. 1) while the pin 39 on the short'arm of the bell crank moves toward the upper end. of the slot 39 in theactuating link 36 until this pin engages the end of the slot, whereupon the final movement of the bell crank causes the carriers. to be rotated back a quarter of a turn to position the sticks therein with their fiat sides in a vertical plane ready to be grasped by the clips of the carrier, as seen in full lines in Fig. '1.

The operator now depresses the operating bar C on the stick carrier to open all of the stick holding clips and slides the same inwardly toward the loader until the sticks slip into the open stick holding clips. The operating bar of thecarrier is then released permitting the clips to grip the edges of the sticks after which the carrier is withdrawn fully loaded as seen in Fig. 11.

In order to facilitate the downward movement of the sticks in the magazine a weight member 42 is disposed on top of the sticks in each magazine, thisweight having a contour similar to the sticks, but materially thicker. These weight members constituting looking or jamming devices when any of the magazines become empty. This is due to the engagement of the'ejectors with the ends of the weights and the inability of the thicker weight members to pass through the stick discharge slots 29 in the front channels 4. Under these conditions there] is no possibility of moving any sticks into the stick holders unless all of the magazines con'tainsticks. j

Referring now to the modified form shown in Fig.- 8 it should be observed that while the magazines 2 and their associated stick holders 28 and ejectors 10 are'quite similar to those shown and described in Figs. 1 to 6, the disclosure in this form of the invention is designed to be plates 43 between which is pivotally mounted at 44 the ejector proper 45 normally urged upwardly by the spring 46. The forward pin 47 as well as the pivotjpi n 44' operates in theguide slots'8 I V A pair of operating-levers 48 secured to the operating shaft .49 extend upwardly through slots 50 in the side guide channels l1 as seen in' Figs. 8 and 11, to dispose the ends of the levers in the path of movement of the end extension on the carrier. V

An arm 50 is secured to the shaft 49 having a pin 51 disposed in a slot, 52 formedin'the upwardly extending actuating link 36?. The upper end of the link 36 is pivotally connected to the operating arm 35 of one of the stick holders 28 These holders all have arms 33 connected together by the link 34. r 7 A spring 53 connects the link 36 with the frame of the machine at 54 to normally exert downward pressure on the link and hold the holders 28 in receiving Fig. 8. H An ejector operating lever, 55, pivoted at 56 is of the side arm extensions C of the carrier.

position as shown in connected to the ejector carriers 13 through the intermediate link 57. i 1

I The lever 55 extends past the pivot 56 .to form an arm'-:58 which carries the pin'59 positioned in the slot 60 of the ejector actuating link 61 which link is pivoted at 62 to the operating lever 48. A spring 63 connects the end of the link 61 with the end of the arm 58 tending to maintain the left hand end of the slot 60 against the pin 59. A light return spring 6.4 is. connected betweenthe lever 55 and the frame of the machine. The. type of carrier particularly adaptable for this type of apparatus is similar to that as shown in Fig. ll although other types may be readily loaded without a materialmodification ofthe structure as shown'or claimed. v

When it is desired to load a'carrier, assuming handle sticks, the operator grasps one of the carriers such asshown .in Fig. 11 and places the side extensions C inv the channels 41*, depresses the stick clip opening bar D and pushes the carrier toward the stick holders 28 .The extensions C-on'the carrier will engage the levers 48, swinging them tov the. left causing the link or links 61 tolswing the ejector actuating lever (or levers) 55 tothe right to the dotted line position in Fig. 8 which causes the ejector 10 to movethe bottom stick through the opening 29 into the holders 28 which remain in receiving position during this preliminary movement due to the 'spring53 and theipinand slot connections 'After the ejector carrier pins 47 reach the right hand ends of the slots 8" the lever 55 cannot swingfurther, but by reason of the pin and slot connection 59-60 the link 6l'and operating lever 48 are permitted to move further under influence At this time, however, the pin 51 has reached the upper end of the slot 52 so thatfurther movement of the levers 48 will rotate the carriers 28 to position the sticks with their fiat sides vertical I as seen in dottedlines, ready to be inserted in the carrier. Further movement of the carrier in 1 the guides 4i causes the sticks to slip into the spring clip B thereof.

The operator now releases the bar D permitting the clips B to" close on the sticks and withdraws the carrier from the loader as seen in Fig. 11. I

The levers 48 are sufficiently flexible to permit 7 the final inward movement for inserting the length so as toreceive the sticks from the magae zine with their flat faces horizontal and deliver the sticks at the other endwith the flat faces in a'vertical plane. Y

The interior orfibore of the tube is, similar in cross section to that of the sticks except sufiiciently large to pass the sticks through without 1 undue friction.

Since the twist of the tubeis fixed, the length thereof will determine the degree of twisting that all of the magazines'Z are loaded with the I action onthe' sticks, and this may be varied as I desired butil have shown in Fig; 9 a tube which ,1

accommodates two and one-half sticks the outer extremity of the tube having very little or nov twist since this must hold the stick vertical so that they will readily enter the clips B on the carrier.

' The operating instrumentalities for this form of myinvention are .obviously the same as used in Fig.1 or in Fig. 8 but-it is also obvious that whenzthe twisted tubes are used the levers 48 are'directly'conne'cted through a link (similar to 61) to the lever and all pin and slot connectors such as 59-61 are not necessary.

' Fig. 11 discloses a loaded carrier being withdrawn from a loader employing the twisted tube form of stick turning holder.

Figs. 12 to 14 disclose another slight modificationof my invention which also employs the twisted tube stick holders.

This form is adaptable for stick carriers of the type disclosed in Fig. 12, consisting of an extensible frame A carrying two banks (usually of twelve each) of stick clamping clips B"mounted on the longitudinal telescopic bars E. One of the operating'handles F .ofeach .clip rests against the longitudinal telescope bar G, while the other operating handles H of each group of clips is positioned under a telescopic bar I which is secured to the end clip handlesH of each group.

In order to open this type of carrier to receive the sticks the operator places his finger on the upper bar I and his thumb under the lower bar I and squeezes them together (see full lines" in Fig. 12). Springs are provided in each clip to force the handles F and H apart and grip the sticks when bars I are released.

' Since there are twobanks of clips to be loaded two sets of magazines 66'67 and associated twisted tubes 68-69 are used as seen in Figs. 12

The ejectors 70-71 are connected together by the links 72 so as to be simultaneously operable. A carrier supporting carriage '73 is slidably mounted on the fixed guide rods '74 and limited in it's rearward movement bythe stops 75. Compression-"springs '76 are interposed between the carriage and the frame'l to exert outward pressure on the carriage. Thecarriage '73 is provided with rollers 7'7 for actuating the operating levers v48 having their ends bent as at '79 so as to permit final inserting. .movement of the carrier without further actuating of the levers 48 if it is so desired. 1

The levers are of'the intermediate pivo type similar to 55 as shownin Fig. 8 and are pivoted at one end to a link (not shown) which link is in turnpivoted to the lever 4879.'

The lever 80 is pivoted to a link 81 which link is pivoted to the selector connecting link 72.

In the operation of this form,-the operator places the double gang stick carrier A" in the carriage 73, presses the two rods or bars I toward each other toropen the stick receiving jaws B. He then pushes the'carrier toward the twisted tubes 68-69. guides 74 will insure proper alignment of the stick clips B with the ends of the tubes.

As the carriage is moved inwardly the rollers 77 rock the levers 48 to the left which through the interconnecting link (not shown) between the lever 48' and the end of the lever 80 will rock the lever 80 to the right moving the ejectors '70'-71 in'their guides 8 to cause the lowermost sticks in the magazines 66 and'6'7 to be pushed into the twisted tubes .6869.. .This forces one of the sticks contained in each tube out. of the The carriage operating on the.

each of the spring clips 7 usual manner.

From the above it will be observed thata double Under some circumstances it is desirable to provide cammingmeans to automatically open the clips as the; carrier is moved toward the loader and one method of carryingthis out is disclosed in Fig. 15 in which a camming member 82 is pivoted at 83 to the side wall 1 of the appa ratus to move downwardly as in dotted lines but resist upward movement beyond the full line position; There is one of these camming members located-on each side of the machine in the path of the rollers S3 which are affixed to the ends of the operating barsvD (or Iwhen the double type-carrier is used). e

As the carrier is pushed into the machine. the camming members exert'downward pressure on the bars D or I-through the rollers 83 causing the clips B to be opened. The rollers now pass under the holding flanges 84 at which time the sticks enter the carrier clips B.

As the'carrier is moved to fully insert the sticks therein'the rollers escape at the ends 85 of the holding flanges 8 l releasing the stick holding clips and spring upwardly thus clamping the sticks in the carrier. (See dotted positions marked 83f-83 inFig. 15.)

As the carrier is now withdrawn the roller cams the cam 82 downwardly out of its path after which it springs up again in the position as shown under the influence of a spring (not shown).

. While the specific details of construction have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:' V v -1. Ina loaderfor stick-carriers of the class described, a stick magazine, an ejector therefor,

and a stick holder having means to receive the sticks ejected from the magazine to rotate the said sticks less than a full turn and position them for engagement with the stick carrier.

; 2. Ina stick. loader for carriers of the class described, a stick magazine, means for ejecting sticks from the magazine, and an associated stick turning holder for receiving the sticks ejected' from the magazine, rotating said sticks a quarter turn and supporting them with a portion thereof extending beyond the end of the holder for engagement with the stick gripping member of acarrier. Y k

3. In a loader of the class described, a plurality of closely spaced fiatstick magazines for supporting the bottom sticks in the same plane, feeding meansfor simultaneously feeding the bottom stick out of each of the magazines and for disposing their flat faces in another plane and lock means operable incident to the emptying of a magazine to prevent the operation of the stick feeding means aforesaid.

4. In a loaderffor carriers of the class described,

Ill-50 to receive the carrier and dispose thesame with its stick gripping clips adjacent the ends of the holders and means :operable by the carrier'for inserting sticks from'the magazines into the holders and for rotating the holders. 7

6. In a stick loader for flat sticks, a

ejector means for ejecting sticks from the maga zines and positioning them in another plane in parallel spaced relation for. insertion in a, stick carrier having a plurality of individual "stick holding devices. l

7. In a flat stick loader for stick carriers' of the class described, a support, a plurality of magazines on said support for supporting the sticks in stacked relation, stick carrier guide means for guiding a stick carrier into cooperative relation with said stick magazines and means for ejecting sticks from said magazines, rotating said sticks on their longitudinal axis approximately a 'the carrier to position the jaws of the carrier to receive the sticks, and. automatic means operable'incident to relative movement of the carrier toward the loader to open the jaws of the carrier for the reception of the sticks therein.

9. In a loaderior carriers or" the class described,

a vertical flat stick magazine having spaced supporting means for supporting the lowermost stick in a horizontal position, a discharge opening in one end of themagazine, ejector means engageable with the end of the stick, means for moving the ejector while in engagement with the stick toward the discharge opening to discharge the stick through the opening, stick receiving means to receive said sticks and to dispose the sticks with their flat sides in another plane and weight means disposed on the sticks in the magazine, said weight means being movable between the stick ejector and a part of the magazine when said magazine becomes empty to prevent movement of the ejector.

10. In a loader for inserting flat sticks in carriers of the class described, spaced vertical stick magazines for holding fiat sticks in stacked relation, ejector means for simultaneously ejecting the lower stick from each magazine, stick holding means for receiving the sticks when ejected from the magazine and positioning them for insertion in a carrier, carrier guide means arranged adjacent the holders to position the car-- rier for loading thereof by the stick holders, and

locking means for said ejector means arranged to be rendered inoperable by the sticks in the magazine.

11. In a stick loader of the class described, a

- v -13. In combination with a stickycarrir havbank of magazines for supporting ilat sticks in one plane,

support, a plurality 'ofrstick mag azines carried thereby -stick turning holders associated with the magazines tofreceive sticks therefrom rotate them less than a-complete turn and hold'them witha-portion protruding from the holder, ejector means for moving the sticks from themagaines, and means for actuating the ejector means.

12. In a stick leader of the class described, a plurality of stick magazines, rotary stick. holders associated with the magazines to. receive sticks therefromand-hold them with a portion thereof protruding from the holder, ejector'means for moving the sticks intothe holders, and means for actuating the ejectors and rotating thestick holders. I a

ing a plurality ofstick-holding jaws disposed in predetermined spaced relation and having means to open the jaws to receive sticks therein, and

for closing them to grip sticks when inserted therein, of a loader having guide'meansfor receiving the carrier-and including. stick-holders arranged in alignment with the jaws of the car;

rier when the same is positioned in the guide means, means operable by the carrier upon movement thereof toward the holders to position sticks in the holders with a part thereof projecting into the jaws of'the carrier whereby withdrawal of the carrier from the guides will withdraw the sticks carried thereby from the stick holders.

14. In a loader of the classdescribed, a support, spaced vertical stick magazines on said support including front and rearspaced stick receiving channels for supporting a stack of flat sticks in stacked relation, means for ejecting sticks from the magazines and disposing them in predetermined horizontally spaced relation with their flat sides vertical, a carrier having stick gripping jaws spaced apart a distance equal to thehorizontal spaced relation of the sticks when ejected from the magazine, guide means for slidably supporting the carrier on the-frame and means for, si-

multaneou'sly opening the jaws of the carrier as meansfor feeding sticks into said tube to rotate 13g) them thereby, and guide means for positioning a carrier adjacent the discharge ends of the tubes to receive sticks therefrom. 1 17. In a stick loading apparatus, a plurality of twisted fiat tubes, stick feeding means for feed- 1 35 ing flat sticks through said tubes, and positioning them with a portion thereof extending beyond the tube with the fiat sidesv in vertical planes, operating means for the feeding means disposed for actuation by a carrier and guide means for causing the carrier to actuate theoperating means and engage the sticks carried by the tubes.

18. In a stick loading apparatus of the class described, a support, a movable carriagecarried thereby having carrier supporting means thereon 14 5 to support a carrier having a plurality of gangs or groups 'of stick gripping devices, a plurality of groups of stick magazines having their bases in different planes, a plurality of groups oftwisted stick feeding tubes, one tube being provided for 1 each magazine, the ends of the tubes being disposed to deliver sticks into the stick gripping de-- vices of a carrier when placed on the supporting means, upon relative movement thereof toward the twisted tubes, and means for moving sticks through the tubes. r 191 In a loader for carriers of the class described, a plurality of vertical flat stick magazines, ejector means for-ejecting sticksout of the magazines, twisted tubes for-receiving the sticks ejected from the magazines, said tubes having a quarter twist to rotate the sticks a quarter of a revolution, said tubes being of such a length to cause ,a portion of the stick inserted therein to protrude therefrom; v 5

' 20. In a loader of the class described, a frame, a carrier support movable thereon, a plurality of magazines for accommodating flatsticks, ejector means for ejecting sticks from the magazines, twisted tubes having a boreof substantially the shape of the sticks being handled therethrough, and also having a quarter twist to-dispose the ends of-the sticks 'inthe planes ofthe stick holdingmembers of a carrier, when it is positioned on the carrier, and means operable by the movable movable support, said tubes being of such a length to cause a portion of the stick inserted therein to project therefrom for entry into the support-for actuating the ejectormeans.

21. In a loader for ice creamsuckermanufacturing stick carriers having fiat stick receiving and supporting-means, a support, a plurality of flat stick magazines, means for ejecting the lowermost stick from each of the magazines, elongated guide means shaped to receive the sticks from the magazines and'support the sticks with a portionfthereof extending beyond the extremity of said guide means, said guide means engaging the sticks to positively support saidsticks against rotation when so extended with the flat sides thereof in a predeterminedplane for-engagement with the receiving and supporting means of the carrier, and'carr'ier positioning means-coopera- CHARLES I-LQWAGNERTV 

